Game device



Jan. 9, 1934. D. c. RocKQLA GAME DEVICE Filed July 21, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 9, 1934. D, c. RocKoLA 1,942,880.

GAME DEVICE Jan. 9, 1934. Q ROCKOLA 1,942,880

GAME DEVICE Filed July 21, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 9, 1934. D. c. RQCKOLA 1,942,880

GAME DEVICE Patented Jan. Q, 1934X ,'.rae

@FilC This invention relates to a game and particularly to a game of the type in which a counter,l

such as a ball, disc or other generally analogous object, is moved; released orprojected upon a playing surface across which it is generally free to move and in combination with which a player controlled guiding and striking elementl may be used so that the player may learn to. control and 'to guide the movement ci the counter.

One object is to provide in connection with a game device oi the general type mentioned, a unitary rneans for engaging and projecting the counter ontothe playing eld. Another object I is to provide a unitary means for releasing the l5 counters after they have been played and for moving them again to the position ci play.

Another object is to provide a unitary means ior raising a counterirom a point below the level oi the playing held to that level and for projecting it upon the playing field. .Another object is to provide means to locls the counter projecting mechanism from movement during the time that the counterrelease mechanism is in the release position.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims. l

'Jhe invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein2 Figure l is a plan View of a game device;

Figure Z is a longitudinal vertical cross section taken at line 2-2ioi Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional detail taken at line 3--3 of Figure l;

Figure i is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the parts in another position of adjustment, in which the counter engaging` member has been moved to the position to engage or' pick up a counter;

Figure 5 is a transverse verticaly cross section taken at line 5--5 of Figure 2, on an enlarged scale; r

Figure 6 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional detail taken at line 6 6 of Figure 5;

, is indicated at B and the lower level at B1.

-Figure 'l is a section at line 7-7 of Figure 5;`

enclosed at the top with glass or other transparent cover A1 which may be carried in a removable lid or frame A2 which is fastened to the vloont or housing A in any suitable manner. Positioned on the inside ci the housing A are one de or more spacing and supporting members A3 arranged to support the playing nelcl portion which will be described below. A4 is a spacing and supporting member mounted on thehousing A.

The playing held constitutes an assembly lnav-l @5 ing an upper and a lower level. The. upper level There is iormed in the lower level B1 a plurality of guiding slots, channels or passages B2, which are of different lengths and shapes but which all Zo terminate in a series of generally parallel portions as indicated at B3. Positioned adjacent theniern`1` ber B1 and in continuation of and in comniuni=l cation with the portions B3, is a member B4 iormed into a plurality of preferably parallel ya pockets by the dividing or spacing members. The upper level B forms the actual playing leld.

It has a plurality of holes or openings B8 through it, which may be of different sizes and shapes. rlhese openings may be positioned at any suitable gg position throughout the surface of the leld. Each is positioned above one of the guide slots B2 so that a counter falling through any one oi the openings B6 will be received in a guide slot B2 and by it guided to the portion B4 and into a gg pocket. Curved, fixed guiding members Bl B7 may be mounted upon or mounted adjacent the playing field B. As shown such guiding portions are mounted at the right. hand of Figure l. Another guiding portion B8 may be mounted at c@ the opposite end of the playing held, As shown in the particular form of the invention illusn trated herewith. the member B0 is formed into a pair of symmetrically curved portions B which have between them a reduced curved portion B10 95 within which one of the holes Bis positioned. The member Baus also cut away, preferably at one side, as at BU, to provide a passage through which a counter may be introduced. as will be described below. 1 rThere may be provided upon the playing field B a plurality oi bafiies, either yielding, in the i'orm of spring members, or xed, or partially yielding and partially fixed. As illustrated in Figure 1, a yielding spring member C is mounted on the member BB and extends wholly or partially across the passage B11 so that it must be deiiected as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 to permit the introduction of the counter. This baleC thus lies in the iirst portion of the normal path llo of entrance of the counter. Farther along on the eld and in the normal path of the counter is another spring bai/lie C1 which normally extends into the path of the counter and toward or against the wall of the frame and may be deflected as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 by the counter as it moves along the side of the field. C2 is another springbaiile which may be mounted generally along the center line of the field and having one end'adjacent the boundary of the field so that a counter in moving along the boundary and past the baie C21 must be deiiected as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. A number of other baiiles C1 C1 may be positioned elsewhere about the field and they may be of any suitable size or construction. As illustrated herewith they are generally all about the same size or shape and are placed symmetrically on the iield. A portion C5 is joined to the baie C1 and in effect forms a continuation of it so that the composite baille C1 C5 is substantially the same in size and shape as the corresponding baffle C4 placed opposite it on the other side of the field. The baiiles shown herein are all formed of spring material. They might be formed otherwise of any desired material and of any desired shape. They might be entirely unyielding. A convenient means for attaching the baiiies to the eld is shown particularly in Figure 2. As there shown the baffle C2 is provided with a, pair of lugs C6. These are preferably pointed as shown and given a shape more or less similar to that of an arrow head. In being placed in position originally in the board they may be driven directly into it, or holes of suitable size may be bored and the pointed lugs driven into ,these holes. By reason of the arrow head shape, they tend to retain their -position in the board and to prevent accidental displacement. e Other baiiies may be placed on the board and as shown more or less U-shaped baies C7 are placed in some cases about the several holes B5. Some or the holes do not have such bales about them in the form of the invention shown herewith; Each of the bailes C4 and C7 preferably has made integrally with it lugs C such as those described in connection with the bae C2, by means of which they are attached to the board.

Mounted Within the housing and above the field B and beneath the glass A1 is a guiding and impelling member comprising preferably a shaft or rod D having a handle D1 and carrying a plurality oi baffle guiding members D2. These members may be of spring material and are fastened to the shaft D and extend from it in a direction to. bring them into the path of the counter as it moves over the ield. The shaft D Yis slotted as at D3 and engages a screw D1 which is mounted in a pin or upwardly projecting member D5 which is carried in and supported by the field B. The pin D5 may be reduced adjacent its upper end as shown in Figure 2, and a cushioning member Ds surrounds it, which member may be of rubber or other similar material. Projecting downwardly from the shaft D is a pair of baies or stops-D1 arranged to contact the pin D5 or the rubber D6 upon it, to limit the sliding movement of the shaft D with respect to the pin. A short and preferably rigid bale DB may be mounted on the under side of the shaft D. D9 is a stop member which may be mounted on the 'shaft D to extend downwardly below it to limit its outward movement with respect to the hous-v ing. The shaft D adjacent its outer end passes .through a shutter member D10 which is mounted in a groove D11 in one of the members of the The portion B4 B5 above described which is shown generally in plan in Figure 1, and in greater detail in plan in Figure 6, provides means for receiving the balls or counters after they have compleled their movement over the playing field and have run through one of the openings and thence through the guide passages B1. The pockets formed by the dividing members B5 may be numbered or marked in any suitable way to permit scoring. During a given game or period of play, it is desirable to retain the counters in the pockets in which they fall. For this purpose a pivoted, generally Ushaped member E is provided. It comprises two branches E and `a connecting cross member E1 which. latter lies across the open ends of the pockets and retains the counters as indicated for example in Figures 2 and 6. The members'E are pivoted as at E2 and may be supported as shown on suitable abutments which in reality in the present case are two of the dividing members B5. One of the portions E may be extended as at E1 and provided with an inclined or angularly disposed slot E5 which is shown in Figure 7, which co-operates in raising or swinging the member E, E1 from the full line posi'ion of Figure 7 to the dotted line position of that figure, in which it releases the counters. To provide an additional scoring or counting feature, a shaft or rod E may be positioned to extend laterally across he member BA1 as indicated generally in Figures l, 2 and 7. Rotatably mounted on this shaft E may be a plurality of flaps or markers E1, preferably one for each of the pockets, formed in the member B1 by the dividing members B5. These flaps may carry numbers, letters, words or any suitable marking, so that when a counter has moved into the pocket it will contact the flap and raise i'; as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and thus display the marking on the ap. The flaps may lllO for example carry letters so that Jtogether they make up a word, and thus when all are raised they spell out a complete word. Ordinarily, during play, the retainer E, E1 is left in the position shown in full lines in Figure 7. In that posi'ion, as counters run down into the pockets they are retained as shown for example in Figure 6, and thus the score may be tallied when the game is completed.

As a means for operating the re'ainer there is provided a double lever construction comprising one lever F which is pivoted as at F1. It is downwardly bent as atF2 and upwardly bent at F3. Ito carries a pin F4 which extends into the inclined slot E5 of the member E4. A cooperating lever FG'is also pivoted at F1` is provided with a laterally bent portion F7 which is upturned as at F8 so that in some positions it engages the firstA mentioned lever F. A spring F9 is fastened at one end adjacent the outer end of the lever F6 and at its other end it is secured to a fixed abutment, for example, to a screw F111, so that it tends normally to hold the lever in one position. A spring F11 holds the lever F in position. l

The device is/coin controlled or coin operated. The particular construction of the coin control forms no part of the present invention and is not illustrated in detail. In general it comprises a f ment.

ing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic. In particular the shape and arrangement of the board, the bales, the holes and the shape and arrangement of the player controlled guiding member, may all be almost infinitely varied. Either the stop D9 or the stops D7 D7 might be omitted or they may both be used. It is sufficient, however, if means are provided for furnishing some kind of a stop for the sliding movement of the member D.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

The game, in the form shown herewith, is primarily designed to be played with a number of balls and to be coin controlled and to permit and require the use of skill on the part of the player in controlling the balls.

Assuming that the balls are in the position shown in Figure 5, some of the balls are in the feed trough H and others are in one of the pockets. A player inserts a coin in the depression G2 of the slide G and pushes in the slide. The inner end of the slide contacts the lever F3 and moves it to raise the ball retaining assembly E, l?1 to the dotted line position of Figure 7, thus releasing any balls which may be in the pockets so that they all move into the feed trough H. When the lever F is moved rearwardly by the movement of the slide, it moves away from the upwardly projecting portion F3 and the bentend F7 of the lever F and the spring F9 thus is free to move the lever FG into the lowerdotted line position of Figure 6. The lever F6 moves in the slot'I1 of the plate I. At this time the lever J and its associated parts occupies the position shown in Figure 3 and the movement of the slide freeing the spring F9 permits the latter to move the lever FG into the path of the arcuate portion J3 of the lever J and thus to prevent full depression of the lever J, its associated parts, or the plunger. Consequently at the beginning of a game, when the keeper El has been raised to allow the balls to move out of the pockets, the impeller with all of its associated parts, is locked against move- Consequently it is impossible for a player to hold the device in effect open with a single coin and to play. The coin` must be discharged and the slide G withdrawn to the open position before the lever F6 is forced sufficiently out of the slot I1 to permit movement of the impeller J and its associated parts. When this movement has taken place and the slide has been withdrawn, the balls are in position for use and the impeller may be actuated. To do this, the plunger J9 is depressed and carries with it the lever J, tensioning the spring J5. After the lever J has moved sufficiently downward it contacts the portion K8 of the lever K and carries the latter downward to the position shown in Figure fi., In that position, the lever` K and the portion K7 of that lever, have moved out of the path of the balls in the trough H, so that the balls mayroll laterally downward and one of the balls occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, over the impeller and particularly over the impeller portion J2.

The plunger may now be allowed to return to its original position, either slowly or rapidly, the speed with which it is allowed to return controlling the force imparted to the ball and consequently controlling the speed with which the ball is' introduced to or projected upon the playing field.

At its initial movement, the ball immediately after leaving the impeller deflects the spring C and moves along the left side of the playing field as the latter is illustrated in Figure 1. If sufficient force has been given to the ball it continues to move, strikes and deects the baille C1, follows the curved portion B7 and strikes and deflects the baille C2. It may then follow the curved edge of the playing field and striking one of the baliies C4, be defiected toward the center of the field. If the ball is not given sufficient force to move along the path just described, it will, as soon as its initial momentum is exhausted, start to roll down the field, which is normally at an incline to the horizontal as shown in Figure 2. It will then contact one oor another of the various baffles and if left alone would roll down the field, striking one baille or another and would fall into one of the openings BG. The openings are given different markings or values which, together constitute the score of the game. Any value or marking may be assigned to the various holes and the pockets to which balls are conducted from them by the channels B2. In the particular form of the invention shown herewith, one of the channels B2 leads not to a pocket but directly to a passage which communicates with the trough H soy that if a ball moves along this path, while it counts nothing, the player may use it again.

During its movement downward along the playing field, the ball may be guided and impelled by the player, using the shaft D and the various baiiies and guiding members upon it. By reason of the slot D3 the guiding assembly may be moved up and down along the field by the player and it may also be swung through a fairly extended arc so that as the ball moves downward across the field, the player may guide it and by a sharp movement of the guiding assembly may actually strike it and the ball having reached the lowest baiiie D2, may be worked backward clear to the top of the board again, and it may be guided by a sufficiently skillful player into any one of the pockets. The game thus provides a combination, with a counter which moves, through a part of its total path at least, under the influence of gravity, player means for positively guiding, controlling and impelling the counter, and the game is thus in effect not a game of chance but a game of skill.

I claim:

l. In combination in a counter game device, a member defining a playing field, a counter collector on a level different from that of the field, a retainer adapted to prevent movement of the counters from the collector and means for move ing it to free the counters, a feed trough adjacent the collector, a unitary moving and projecting lever adapted'to move a counter from the trough to the level of the playing iield and to project it thereupon, a movably mounted stop, means for normally retaining the stop in position to prevent movement of the trough, means for moving the projector and -means for causing the stop to move in response to movement of the projector.

2. In combination in a counter game device, i

a member defining a playing field, a counter collector on a level different from that of the field, a retainer adapted to prevent movement of the counters from the collector and means for moving it to free the counters, a feed trough adjacent. the collector, a unitary moving and projecting lever adapted to move a counter from the trough to the level of the playing field and to project it thereupon, a movably mounted stop positioned adjacent the trough and adjacent the counters from vtheI Leia-ceo collector on a level diierent from that of the eld, a retainer adapted to prevent movement of the counters from the collector and means for moving it to free the counters, a feed trough adjacent the collector, a unitary moving and projecting lever adapted to move a counter from the trough to the level of the playing field and to project 4it thereupon, a movably mounted stop positioned adjacent the trough and adjacent the projecting lever, yielding means for normally retaining the stop in position to prevent movement of the counters from the trough, means for moving the projector and means for caus.

ing the stop tomove in response to movement of the projector, means for moving the counter retainer to free the counters for movement to the trough, and automatic locking means operated in response to movement of the retainer to lock the projector against movement during the time that the retainer is in a position to permit moveglent of the counters from the collector.

DAvm c. ROCKOLA. 

